Reads of the Week: December 7, 2012

I didn’t go toASAE’s Technology Conferencethis week because I was too busy and too cheap, but I almost felt like I was there – minus the hugs, good conversation and drinks. You know why – Twitter, baby. Following the hashtag (#tech12), I got the highlights from the two keynote sessions withBrian SolisandDion Hinchcliffe, the town hall withReggie Henry, and several sessions featuring association technology experts and smarty pants. It’s not exactly like being there but it’s good stuff. Thanks to all the attendees who shared their notes on Twitter.

Ok, everyone, I’m asking you to hold me accountable so that I follow the practice I preach. This week on the Avectra blog I wrote aboutmaking time at the end of the year for Me Time – strategic reflection, planning, and reading for professional/personal development. Somehow between celebrating the holidays both here and in Massachusetts, I intend to find time to do all those things on my to-do list that I have pushed off week after week, month after month. It will mean saying “no” when I don’t want to (sorry, clients!), but this is critical work – an investment in my career and expertise. Are you with me?

Maybe during Me Time, I should start a daily habit of using Google+. I’m on there but completely inactive. But, according to this presentation by Gideon Rosenblatt that Maddie Grant shares on her blog and at #tech12, Google+ is the place for me because I’m not only a content creator, I’m a content curator, here and on Twitter. Maddie also shares a bunch of othergreat resources about Google+. Ok, Maddie, ok, I’m on it.

Here’s a post by Krista Kortrla about crazy companies. “These crazy companies actually involve every single person in their business to create content.” Oh to be crazy. She discusses the many ways thatcontent marketing transforms a companyand its culture.

Looking for blog ideas that will grab the attention of your audience? Even if you don’t have a “local” audience, try tweaking these to fit your audience’s interests – the emotional hooks should still work. NPR Digital Services’Eric AthasandTeresa Gormanwanted to find out why some local stories received more “likes” and comments, and were shared more than others. In this Nieman Journalism Lab article, they present their findings – “data-backed trends we discovered in an analysis of content geotargeted to four cities…over a span of three months” – and share thenine types of local stories that cause engagement.

At one of my association’s affiliate services roundtable, a lot of questions were raised about SEO, so I invited a fellow member to come in and talk to us about the basics. This post by Diane Huff, Trusted SEO Resources for Small Businesses, would have been handy as well.

Many of us will resolve to develop new habits in 2013. Isn’t it interesting how humans are always striving to improve ourselves? I don’t see my dog doing that. Here aresix simple rituals to help you reach your potential every dayfromAmber Rae at Fast Company. I do #1-4 already but have never made #5 and #6 intentional habits. I think about them sometimes, but not daily. So many habits to develop!